CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--Boston University has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2008 America East Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship, according to a vote of the conference’s head coaches. The Terriers received six of eight first-place votes (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team), tallying 61 points. The University at Albany took two first-place votes in its second-place standing with 56 points. Closely following was University of New Hampshire receiving one first-place vote to total 54 points and earn a third-place standing.
Binghamton University (37 points) finished in fourth place, followed by University of Maine (31 points) in fifth place. University of Vermont (29 points), UMBC (26), Stony Brook University (22), and University of Hartford (8) rounded out the coaches’ poll.
Boston looks to repeat as America East Indoor Track & Field Champions this season. The Terriers will look to seniors Tahari James (Branford, Conn.) in the field events, Erin Castarius (Marshfield, Mass.) in the sprints, Jessica Cackay (Newtown, Pa.) in mid-distance, and standout Marisa Ryan (Farmington, Conn./The Taft School) in the distance events.
Albany will try to dethrone the Terriers with help from a large freshman class including Tiffany Sprenkels (Squamish, British Columbia/Howe Sound) in the jumping events, Kadine Johnson (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) in the throwing events, and mid-distance runner Corrine Stepney-Porter (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's). Cross country standout and junior transfer Laura Cummings (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore-University of North Carolina) will debut her indoor track career at Albany this year. Also freshman Christen Griffin (Waldorf, Md./Maurice J. McDonough) a six-time Maryland state champion will join junior Kamilah McShine (Spring Valley, N.Y./Ramapo) in the hurdles and sprint events.
New Hampshire is led by senior Kiah Quarles (Derry, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) in the 55-meter hurdle event and long jump. The Wildcats look for strong performances in the distance events, including junior Austin Mullins (Concord, N.H.) in the 800 meters and senior Rebecca Haley (Dover, N.H.) in the 1000 meter run.
Binghamton returns junior Kim Williams (Sprints Buffalo/Leonardo de Vinci) a top sprinter and junior Katie Wilmer (North Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero North Syracuse) a top pole vault competitor. Also the freshman trio of Caitlin Brennan (Rochester, N.Y.), Rosie DeFino (Holbrook, N.Y.), and Sheila Sickau (Eden, N.Y.) will compete in hurdles and jumps.
Maine looks to sophomore Allyson Howatt (Fredericton, New Brunswick) after a fourth-place finish in the 100 meters last year. Classmate Elonnai Hickok (Rutledge, Pa.) was fourth in the 5000 meters last year.
Vermont is led by seniors Avery Cole (New Canaan, Conn.) and Channel Hamilton (Willingboro, N.J.). Cole has been a consistent middle distance runner for the Catamounts and Hamilton is one of the team's top sprinters.
UMBC will be led by senior Ashley Fauntleroy (Silver Spring, Md./Paint Branch) after her gold medal performance in the shot put at last year’s championships. Sophomore Tawana Wilson (Yorktown, Va./Tabb) will be competitive in the sprints along with fellow classmate Britney Foreman (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) who took bronze in the 55-meter.
Stony Brook returns sophomore Laura Huet (Carrickmines, Ireland/Institute of Educ.) after her fourth-place mile at last year’s championships. Sophomore Natalie Jasmin (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport H.S.) took fifth place in the 400 last year.
Hartford returns outstanding high jumper Latasha Jarrett (Ellington, Conn./Ellington).
The 2008 America East Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held at Boston University Track & Tennis Center on February 22-23.